High density tape library system

ABSTRACT

A high density tape library includes a plurality of rectangular platforms mounted adjacent one another for movement in a plane, with tape cassette magazines mounted on the platforms. The platforms have depending guide and cam follower members for movement around a generally rectangular track under the control of a series of cams. At a cassette handling station, selected tape cassettes are shifted from a magazine to a tape drive.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/754,516, filed Jan. 4, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to tape storage systems and, morespecifically, to such systems which are suitable for rack mounting.

[0004] 2. General Background and State of the Art

[0005] Tape libraries are known in the field as indicated by U.S. Pat.No. 5,498,116, granted Mar. 12, 1996, and as disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 08/427,884, filed Apr. 26, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No.6,271,982, and assigned to the assignee of this invention. In thesesystems, a large number of tape cassettes or cartridges are stored intower-like configurations, and transfer mechanisms are provided forselecting designated tape cassettes and transporting them to a tapedrive where data may be accessed from the tape cassettes or written intothe tape cassette or cartridge.

[0006] One disadvantage of these known prior art arrangements is thatthey take up more space than is desirable. Thus, for example, standardelectronic racks for mounting electronic equipment are normally 19inches wide and have vertical spaces for storing electronic equipmentin, in terms of standard increments or units of height equal to one andthree quarters (1¾) inches. Electronic equipment intended for rackmounting is normally designed to occupy a predetermined number of unitsof height, such as one unit of height (1¾ inches) or two or three unitsof height (3½ inches or 5¼ inches, respectively).

[0007] If the prior art tape library systems as identified above were tobe mounted in standard electronic racks, they would occupy a largenumber of rack units of height, and this would be considered verywasteful of available rack space.

[0008] Another factor to be considered is that prior art tape librarysystems are often designed to accommodate only one type of cassette, forexample an 8 mm tape cassette or one of the ½-inch wide tape cassettes;and each system must be uniquely designed to handle the specific type ofcassette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a morecompact tape library system which will accommodate a large number ofcassettes, and only occupy a few rack units of space.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a tape librarydesign in which there is a high degree of commonality in the parts whichare included in systems for handling different types of tape cassettes.

[0011] In accordance with one illustrative embodiment of the invention,the foregoing objects are achieved in a tape library system whichincludes an array of rectangular platforms, with the platforms beingmounted adjacent one another for movement in a plane. Cassette magazinesare mounted on the platforms. A cassette handling station is providedimmediately adjacent the platforms, and a mechanism is provided forshifting the position of the platforms to bring selected magazines tothe cassette handling station. Each system is provided with one or moretape drives, and a transfer carriage for gripping a selected cassetteand transferring it to the drive or drives.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, a track is provided and each of theplatforms has a depending guide for riding in the track and a camfollower for engagement by a plurality of cams underlying the track.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the number of platforms is one lessthan the number of platform stations for maximum cassette density. Fourcams may be provided with two at each end of the system with axes ofrotation of the cams at each end being displaced from each other. Theshifting if platforms is a four-step process, with one cam acting on asingle platform at each point in the cycle to apply force to oneplatform to move that platform (and any aligned platforms) toward thevacant station. Each cam has an extent of 90 degrees and may be operatedin a forward or reverse direction to move the magazines in one directionor the other. The reversible capability reduces cassette access time, asthe system can act in either direction to bring the selected cassette tothe cassette handling station through the shortest path.

[0014] In considering the system from an overall standpoint, it may benoted that the vacant station “moves” in the opposite direction from thedirection of rotation of the cams and the platforms.

[0015] This preferred system as described above has the advantages ofboth (1) high density because only one station is vacant or open, and(2) reversibility for rapid cassette access.

[0016] By substituting different magazines mounted on said platforms,different types of cassettes may be accommodated, while still using thesame platform, track and camming arrangements for systems handlingdifferent types of cassettes.

[0017] In accordance with additional features of the system (1) a numberof platform locations may be provided with the number of platforms beingone less than the number of platform locations; and (2) the cassettemagazines may be facing the cassette handling station as the platformsare shifted in position; (3) the tape drives may be positioned so thatthe cassettes may be transferred linearly without changing orientationof the cassettes; and (4) with modified optimum platform sizes for eachtype of cassette, significant commonality of parts and design featuresmay be present in the different systems.

[0018] It is also noted in passing that the platforms and platformlocations do not have to be immediately adjacent one another, but couldbe in an open-center rectangular configuration, for example. Witharrangements of this type, additional system equipment such as the drivemotor and electronics may be located in the open center of theplatforms.

[0019] Concerning commercially available tape libraries, in the ½-inchtape drive category, one commercially available library system with twodrives includes 18 tape cassettes in a five rack-unit space. Thiscompares with the design in accordance with the invention which wouldinclude 21 cassettes and two drives in a five rack-unit space. This isan increase in system capacity of about 16%.

[0020] In the 8 mm tape drive field, there is one commercially availablefive rack-unit system which only has 30 cassettes, and the comparablesystem made in accordance with the invention has a 65 cassette capacity.This design would include 13 platforms with five cassettes in eachmagazine on each platform. This would involve an increased systemcapacity of substantially more than 100%.

[0021] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a high density tapelibrary system illustrating the principles of the invention, and using 8mm tape cassettes;

[0023]FIG. 2 is a showing similar to that of FIG. 1, but using ½-inchtape cassettes;

[0024]FIG. 3 is an exterior view of the system for moving the platformsupon which the magazines for the tape cassettes are mounted;

[0025]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the platform movement system of FIG.3;

[0026]FIG. 5 is an enlarged view from the bottom of one of the platformsshown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the depending guide and cam followerattached to the center of the platform;

[0027]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the platform moving system of FIGS. 3and 4;

[0028]FIG. 7 is an additional view of one end of the system as shown inFIG. 6 taken directly into the system and perpendicular to the planethereof;

[0029]FIGS. 8A through 8D are diagrams illustrating the mode ofoperation of the system of FIGS. 3 through 7; and

[0030]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a magazine in which a plurality ofcassettes are mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the overall tape librarysystem 12 includes several tape drives 14 for reading and writinginformation onto cassettes such as the cassette 16 which has beenremoved from the magazine 18 which still has four additional cassettesmounted therein. Six additional magazines for holding cassettesdesignated by the reference numeral 20 are mounted on platforms whichare not shown in detail in FIG. 1. The magazine 18 is located at thecassette handling station of the system so that the cassette 16 may beremoved from the magazine 18 by the mechanism 22 which is shownschematically, and which removes the cassette 16 from the magazine 18and shifts it along the track as shown in FIG. 1 for loading into one ofthe tape drives 14. It may be noted that the configuration of thesystem, including the orientation and location of the magazines and thedrives, is such that a linear transfer of cassettes from the loadingstation or loading stations may be accomplished without changing theorientation of the cassettes.

[0032] Also included within the housing 24 are additional components 26which may include power supply, electronics, a drive motor, andcollateral equipment.

[0033]FIG. 2 shows a system 12′ which is quite similar to the system ofFIG. 1 but is intended for handling ½-inch width tapes as indicated bythe larger cassette 16′ which is shown being transferred from themagazine 18′ to one of the two tape drives 14′. In general, the systemof FIG. 2 operates in a manner similar to that of FIG. 1, as will bediscussed in greater detail hereinbelow.

[0034]FIG. 3 is an external view of the sub-assembly which carries theplatforms 32 upon which the magazines 20 and 20′ of FIGS. 1 and 2 aremounted. The particular embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 haseight platform stations, with one platform station 34 being vacant. Inaddition, it is noted that the particular platform 32′ is located at thetape handling station where the loading and unloading mechanism 22, asshown in FIG. 1, accesses specific cassettes and shifts them between themagazines and the tape drives. In accordance with system requirements,one or more additional tape handling stations may be provided, asindicated at platform 32″ in FIG. 3. Also shown in FIG. 3 are the framemembers 36 and the motor 38 which drives the mechanism which shifts thepositions of the platforms 32. It may be noted in passing that the framehas a central recess 40 representing an alternative mounting positionfor the motor 38.

[0035]FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the platform shifting mechanismof FIG. 3. More specifically, the system of FIG. 4 includes the plate 44which has a slot 46 therein in which the guide members 48 slide and/orare guided. The movement of the platform 32 is controlled by the cams52, 54, 56 and 58. As will be described in greater detail hereinbelow,the movement of the platforms, is a four-step process in which the openplatform station 34 is initially filled by one of the adjacentplatforms, and then the remainder of the platforms are shifted around.

[0036] With regard to other components shown in FIG. 4, the motor 38drives various gears 62 which control the rotation of the cams.Incidentally, the entire gear train and all four cams movesynchronously, with each of the four cams 52, 54, 56 and 58 beingoperable to engage their respective cam followers only for one-quarterof the operating cycle of the system. It is further noted in passingthat there are two cams 52 and 54 at one end of the system, and two cams56 and 58 at the other end of the system, and that they are located atdifferent elevations of the system to engage different ones of the camfollower surfaces shown in the depending member 48 of each of theplatforms 32, as best shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. The cams 52 and54 also have slightly offset axes of rotation to implement the platformmovement sequence as described hereinbelow.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, it shows the mechanismfrom another perspective, specifically from the bottom of the unit withthe lower-most plate 66 of FIG. 4 being removed.

[0038]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary bottom view showing the cams 56 and 58along with the tracks along which the guide members depending from theplatforms ride. In FIG. 7, the circle 72 represents one of the guidemembers depending from each of the platforms. As shown in FIG. 7, thefront surface 74 of the cam member 56 has engaged the guide memberindicated at 72 and has shifted it from the point designated 76 over tothe position 72, at the corner of the track 46. This is one of the stepsaccomplished by the four cams 52, 54, 56 and 58, as shown in FIG. 4 ofthe drawings, for example.

[0039] The four steps involved in shifting the platforms around therectangular configuration of platform stations will now be described insome detail in connection with FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D. In thesefigures, the vacant platform station will be indicated by an “X” asshown at reference numeral 82 in FIG. 8A. The cams and the leading edgesthereof, such as edge 74 of cam 56, are shown by the lines 84 and 86,for example, with line 84 representing the front surface 74 of cam 56,and the line 86 representing the front surface of the cam 58. In FIG.8A, the platform having the depending guide and cam follower member 88is engaged by the cam 84 and is moved over to fill the vacant spaceindicated by the “X” 82. At that point, the guide and cam follower isshifted to the position indicated at 72 in FIG. 7, at the corner of thetrack 46.

[0040] Following the step indicated in FIG. 8A of the drawings, theplatform station 90 is vacant, as indicated by the “X” 92. It is thendesirable to shift the three lower right-hand platforms upward so thatthe open space 90 is filled. This is accomplished by the cam face 94which engages the depending guide member 96 and shifts all threeright-hand platforms upwardly as indicated by the arrow 98. FIG. 8Cpresents the situation following the step of FIG. 8B, which left thelower right-hand station vacant as indicated by the “X” designated bythe reference numeral 100. The next step is the engagement of thedepending guide member 102 by the front surface of a cam indicated byreference numeral 104. This shifts the lower left-hand platformtransversely into the vacant space at the lower right-hand side of thediagram of FIG. 8C. As indicated by the arrow 105, FIG. 8D representsthe situation following the step shown in FIG. 8C, and the open platformstation at the lower left-hand corner of diagram 8D is indicated by thereference numeral 106. The front surface of one of the cams indicated byreference numeral 86 now engages the depending guide member 108, andshifts the three right-hand platforms downwardly toward the vacant spaceindicated by the reference numeral 106, thus completing the four-stepmovement of the cycle needed to shift the magazines around theeight-station configuration.

[0041] Incidentally, it is again noted that the cams 56 and 58 are notconcentrically mounted, but that their pivot points are displacedsomewhat to ensure engagement of the cams at the desired intervals toaccomplish the necessary shifting functions. It can also be seen in thediagrams of FIGS. 8A through 8D.

[0042] For completeness, FIG. 9 has been added to show a typicalmagazine 112 in which a plurality of cassettes 114 are shown mounted. Inthe implementation of the system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example,the upper and lower front corners of the cassettes are gripped and thecassettes are thereafter withdrawn from the individual magazines, andtransferred to the tape drives.

[0043] For completeness, it is noted that the dimensions of one systemillustrating the principles of the invention involved a height of 5 rackunits, or 8-¾ inches, a width of about 16.6 inches, and a depth of about26 inches.

[0044] In the foregoing detailed description, one preferred illustrativeembodiment of the invention has been described. In the described system,only one of the platform stations is left vacant, with all the otherplatform stations being filled with platforms. This makes for a highdensity of cassettes. In addition, the system is reversible which, ofcourse, reduces access time to obtain any selected cassette. Otherdesigns accomplishing much the same purpose can be implemented with someof them having various shortcomings. As one example, it is quitepossible to have a design with two vacant stations, in which a simplestraight lever-acting mechanism may be employed to shift the platformsand with a simpler motion. In addition, a uni-directional system may beemployed in which the depending guide members are engaged by a two-partlever, with the outer portion of the lever being pivotal in only onedirection. This type of simpler mechanism is unidirectional and onlyneeds to have one vacant station so it has some of the advantages ofapplicant's preferred design. A multiple electro-magnetic plungeractuation of the movement of the platforms represents anotheralternative which may be employed. It is further noted that, instead ofseparate cassette magazines and platforms, the bottom of each of thecassette magazines could also serve as the platform. Accordingly, thepresent invention is not limited to the specific preferred illustrativeembodiment disclosed in the drawings and described in detailhereinabove.

We claim:
 1. A high density tape storage and access system comprising: aplurality of at least three tape cassette magazines; a framework andmechanism providing a plurality of at least four magazine stationslocated in a rectangular configuration including at least one cassettehandling magazine station; guiding arrangements for mounting saidmagazines and for shifting said magazines around a closed loop betweensaid magazine stations and to bring said magazines successively to saidcassette handling station, said closed loop having a rectangularconfiguration; said magazines facing said cassette handling station asthey are moved; and the number of cassette magazines being less than thenumber of magazine stations; whereby any selected cassette is accessedby shifting the positions of said magazines until the magazinecontaining the selected cassette is located at said cassette handlingstation.
 2. A system as defined in claim 1 further comprising at leastone tape drive, and a transfer mechanism including a cassette gripperand a carriage for transferring selected cassettes from a magazine atsaid cassette handling station to said tape drive.
 3. A system asdefined in claim 1 further comprising at least two tape drives, and atransfer mechanism including a cassette gripper and a carriage fortransferring selected cassettes from a magazine at said cassettehandling station to a selected one of said tape drives.
 4. A system asdefined in claim 1 further comprising a substantially rectangular trackfor guiding the movement of said magazines.
 5. A system as defined inclaim 1 wherein each said magazine is mounted on a platform and whereinsaid platforms each have a depending guide and cam follower member.
 6. Ahigh density tape storage and access system comprising: a plurality ofat least three tape cassette magazines; a framework and mechanismproviding a plurality of at least four magazine stations located in arectangular configuration including at least one cassette handlingmagazine station; guiding arrangements for mounting said magazines andfor shifting said magazines around a closed loop between said magazinestations and to bring said magazines successively to said cassettehandling station, said closed loop having a rectangular configuration;and the number of cassette magazines being less than the number ofmagazine stations, thereby providing a vacant station; whereby anyselected cassette is accessed by shifting the positions of saidmagazines until the magazine containing the selected cassette is locatedat said cassette handling station.
 7. A system as defined in claim 6further comprising at least one tape drive, and a transfer mechanismincluding a cassette gripper and a carriage for transferring selectedcassettes from a magazine at said cassette handling station to said tapedrive.
 8. A system as defined in claim 6 further comprising at least twotape drives, and a transfer mechanism including a cassette gripper and acarriage for transferring selected cassettes from a magazine at saidcassette handling station to a selected one of said tape drives.
 9. Asystem as defined in claim 6 further comprising a substantiallyrectangular track for guiding the movement of said magazines.
 10. Asystem as defined in claim 6 wherein each said magazine is mounted on aplatform and wherein said platforms each have a depending guide and camfollower member.
 11. A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said guidingarrangements for mounting and shifting said magazines includesarrangements for moving some of said magazines in a stepwise mannertoward a vacant station.
 12. A high density tape storage and accesssystem comprising: a plurality of at least three tape cassettemagazines; a framework and mechanism providing a plurality of at leastfour magazine stations located in a rectangular configuration includingat least one cassette handling magazine station; guiding arrangementsfor mounting said magazines and for shifting said magazines around aclosed loop between said magazine stations and to bring said magazinessuccessively to said cassette handling station, said closed loop havinga rectangular configuration; the number of cassette magazines being lessthan the number of magazine stations, thereby providing a vacantstation; and said guiding arrangements for mounting and shifting saidmagazines including arrangements for moving some of said magazines in astepwise manner toward a vacant station; whereby any selected cassetteis accessed by shifting the positions of said magazines until themagazine containing the selected cassette is located at said cassettehandling station.
 13. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein each saidmagazine is mounted on a platform, said platforms having depending camfollowers, and wherein said system includes a plurality of cams forengaging said cam followers to shift said platforms and magazines.
 14. Ahigh density tape storage and access system comprising: a plurality ofat least three tape cassette magazines; a framework and mechanismproviding a plurality of at least four magazine stations located in aclosed loop configuration including at least one cassette handlingmagazine station; guiding arrangements for mounting said magazines andfor shifting said magazines around a closed loop between said magazinestations and to bring said magazines successively to said cassettehandling station; the number of cassette magazines being less than thenumber of magazine stations, thereby providing a vacant station; andsaid guiding arrangements for mounting and shifting said magazinesincluding arrangements for moving some of said magazines in a stepwisemanner toward a vacant station; whereby any selected cassette isaccessed by shifting the positions of said magazines until the magazinecontaining the selected cassette is located at said cassette handlingstation.
 15. A system as defined in claim 14 wherein each said magazineis mounted on a platform, said platforms having depending cam followers,and wherein said system includes a plurality of cams for engaging saidcam followers to shift said platforms and magazines.
 16. A system asdefined in claim 14 wherein said system includes arrangements formaintaining a fixed angular orientation for said magazines as they arebeing moved.